The Art & Science of Awe

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  Craig Anderson, Ph.D.

  Craig Anderson received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, where he was a member of Dacher Keltner's Project Awe research team. His most recent project is a research collaboration with the Sierra Club, focusing on how experiencing awe in nature can be therapeutic for both adolescents from under-served communities and military veterans.

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  Stacy Bare

  Stacy Bare is the director of the Sierra Club Outdoors program. A climber, mountaineer, and skier, climbing helped Stacy recover from PTS and readjustment issues from a year in Baghdad as a Civil Affairs Team Leader in the Army. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star for merit and a combat action badge in Baghdad as well as being named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year for 2014.​

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  Ben Davis

  Ben Davis envisions art in places most others don't. Fueled by a passion for infrastructure–the manmade systems that connect and define civilization–he seeks to shed light on the wisdom that we do better when we work selflessly toward a shared and meaningful purpose. Mr. Davis believes that public art has the unique power to uplift individual lives as well as drive cities toward more conscious evolution. The creative agency he founded has named and branded infrastructure projects totaling more than $15b in civic investment. He has edited and published EVERYTHING INDICATES: Bay Bridge Poems & Portraits. He is the artist behind Pi In The Sky, a featured work of the 2012 ZERO1 Art & Technology International Biennial and SXSW 2014. He is the catalyst behind the monumental LED art installation on the Bay Bridge, The Bay Lights.

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  David Delgado

  David Delgado is a visual strategist at NASA' Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where he develops experiences that provoke curiosity through a mix of science and imagination. His recent work includes Metamorphosis, which allowed people to walk through the growing tail of a comet, and The NASA Orbit Pavilion, allowing people to listen to satellites streak across the sky above them. Outside of JPL, David works as an independent artist and co-founder of the Museum of Awe, a museum of experiences designed to leave visitors feeling the gift and privilege of being alive. 

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  Melanie DeMore

  Melanie DeMore is one of the most outstanding vocal artists of today helping to preserve the African-American folk tradition through song and Gullah stick pounding and is the subject of a documentary on the tradition, Stick and Pound. She has a career spanning 30 years dedicated to teaching, lecturing, mentoring, conducting, directing, and inspiring children and adults about the power of song as social and political change.

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  Alex Filippenko, Ph.D.

  Alex Filippenko, Ph.D., an elected member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, is one of the world's most highly cited astronomers and the recipient of numerous prizes for his scientific research. He was the only person to have been a member of both teams that revealed the accelerating expansion of the universe, an amazing discovery that was honored with the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics to the teams’ leaders and the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics to all team members.

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  Robert Hass

  Robert Hass is one of contemporary American poetry’s most celebrated and widely-read voices. He served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 1995-1997 and has won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. In the mid-1990s, Hass cofounded the River of Words organization, which provides tools for teaching ecoliteracy to young students through multidisciplinary, interactive curricula. He is Distinguished Professor of Poetry & Poetics at UC Berkeley.

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  Jakada Imani

  Jakada Imani is the director of Ignite Institute at the Pacific School of Religion. Prior to joining PSR, Jakada served for six years as executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, where he launched an effort to reduce the US incarceration rate by 50 percent. He also serves on the Board of Compton Foundation and the OneLife Institute and is a member of Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples.​

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  Vanessa Inn

  
  Vanessa Inn is a self-confessed Awe Junkie. For more then 30 years she has provided strategic advice to the entertainment art industry’s leading CEOs, studio heads, actors, writers, producers, directors, and rock stars. She’s developed a loyal following by helping clients sharpen their vision, navigate real world challenges and achieve and maintain success on a world stage. In 2013 she moved to San Francisco and joined the non-profit arts organization ILLUMINATE as their Chief Strategy Officer.  She shares her love of awe in helping ILLUMINATE manifest awe-inspired civic art. 

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  Dacher Keltner, Ph.D.

  Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., is a pioneering awe researcher, the founding faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, and a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence and Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life and a co-editor of The Compassionate Instinct: The Science of Human Goodness.

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  Jaclyn Lim

  Jaclyn Lim is a Sierra Club volunteer who credits her life’s trajectory to her experiences and awe with nature. She currently works for Marin County Parks as a restoration ecologist and botanist. When she isn’t conducting vegetation surveys, Jaclyn enjoys white water rafting, cooking, and playing soccer.

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  Julie Mann

  Julie Mann is an ESL and human rights teacher at Newcomers High Schooly in Queens, New York, where she has taught new immigrants to the United States for 21 years. She is a self-labeled Greater Good Science Center "super fan" and uses Greater Good in Action strategies in all of her classes. She is an alumni of the 2015 GGSC Summer Institute for Educators and works closely with GGSC to help bring the magic of awe, gratitude, mindfulness, resilience, self-efficacy, growth mindset, play, forgiveness, and happiness to her students.
   

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  Paul Piff, Ph.D.

  Paul K. Piff, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of psychology and social behavior at Irvine, where he also directs the Social Inequality and Cohesion Lab. Dr. Piff's research examines the origins of human kindness and cooperation, and the social consequences of economic inequality. In 2015, Dr. Piff was designated as a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science in recognition of his outstanding early contributions to the field of psychology.

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  Thomas Rockwell

  Tom Rockwell is director of exhibits and media at the Exploratorium, San Francisco’s museum of science, art, and human perception. During his 11 years at the Exploratorium, Tom led the development of new galleries for the museum's move to the waterfront in 2013, as well as the Geometry Playground exhibition and other NSF supported projects. Prior to coming to San Francisco, Tom founded and ran Painted Universe, Inc. where projects included exhibitions such as "It’s a Nano World," "The Enchanted Museum: Exploring the Science of Art," and illustrations for The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. 

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  Michelle "Lani" Shiota, Ph.D.

  Michelle "Lani" Shiota completed her Ph.D. in Social/Personality Psychology at University of California, Berkeley in 2003, and then received post-doctoral training in the Berkeley Psychophysiology Lab. She joined the social psychology faculty at ASU in 2006, establishing the Shiota Psychophysiology Laboratory for Affective Testing (a.k.a. SPLAT Lab), which studies human emotions, relationships, and awe.  

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  Jason Silva

  Jason Silva is the Emmy-nominated host of National Geographic Channel’s #1 rated and Emmy-nominated TV series, Brain Games, seen in over 171 countries. “A Timothy Leary of the Viral Video Age” was how The Atlantic described television personality, filmmaker, and philosopher Silva, who is also the creator of the Discovery Digital web series Shots of Awe, micro-documentaries exploring creativity, innovation, exponential technology, futurism, metaphysics, existentialism and the human condition.  
   

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  Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D.

  Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas, Ph.D., is science director of the Greater Good Science Center, where she oversees the GGSC’s Expanding Gratitude project, The Science of Happiness online class, and more. Emiliana’s work spotlights the science that connects health and happiness to social affiliation, caregiving, and collaborative relationships.

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  Jennifer Stellar, Ph.D.

  Jennifer Stellar received her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and is currently starting a faculty position in the Psychology Department at the University of Toronto. Her research examines the impact of prosocial emotions--including awe, compassion, and gratitude--on health and well-being. She explores how these emotions work in concert with our biological systems to support giving, helping, bonding, and overall physical health.

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  Wu Man

  Recognized as the world’s premier player of the pipa, a Chinese stringed instrument, and leading ambassador of Chinese music, Grammy Award-nominated musician Wu Man has carved out a career as a soloist, educator, and composer. Wu Man has premiered hundreds of new works for the pipa, while spearheading projects to both preserve and create awareness of China’s ancient musical traditions. She was named Musical America’s 2013 Instrumentalist of the Year, marking the first time this prestigious award has been bestowed on a player of a non-Western instrument.

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  Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D.

  A former teacher and school administrator, Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D., is the education director of the Greater Good Science Center. An expert on the science of well-being, she provides science-based ideas for promoting the social and emotional well-being of students, teachers, and administrators, as well as methods for creating positive school cultures.  

Attendees will be able to:

• Describe the core features of an awe-inspiring experience;

• Identify the psychological, social, and physical health benefits of feeling awe;

• Explain the scientific theories about why we feel awe;

• Identify the experiences and other factors that nurture and elicit awe

The Zellerbach Playhouse is located next to Zellerbach Hall, adjacent to Bancroft Ave., along the southern boundary of the UC Berkeley campus. See a complete UC Berkeley campus map here.

By Car 

Please note that, for those wishing to generate computerized directions to UC Berkeley venues, Zellerbach Playhouse does not have a street address. We suggest that you use the address of The Musical Offering, 2430 Bancroft Ave., as it is directly across the street from Zellerbach Hall/Zellerbach Playhouse. 

From Interstate 80 (San Francisco, Oakland, Marin):
Exit at University Avenue exit. Continue east on University Avenue approximately 1.5 miles to Oxford Street. Turn right on Oxford Street, pass Bancroft Way, and turn left on Durant Avenue. Turn left on Telegraph Avenue. See also Highway and Campus maps below for for locations of venues. 

From Highway 24:
Exit at Telegraph Avenue exit. Turn right onto Telegraph Avenue and continue north approximately 2 miles to Bancroft Way. Turn left on Bancroft Way. See also Highway and Campus maps below for for locations of venues.

Parking

In Berkeley, parking meters are free with a California disabled placard. The best parking lot options near the Zellerbach Playhouse are:

1. Telegraph-Channing Garage
Entrances on Durant Avenue and Channing Street, between Telegraph Avenue and Dana Street

2. Recreational Sports Facility (RSF) Garage (limited spots available)
Bancroft Way at Ellsworth Avenue

3. Bancroft/Fulton Lot
Bancroft Way between Ellsworth Avenue and Fulton Street

4. Dana/Durant Lot
Dana Street near Bancroft Way, across from Zellerbach Hall

5. Bancroft Structure
Bancroft Way between College Avenue and Bowditch Street

6. Allston Way Garage
Allston Way between Shattuck and Militia

7. Center Street Garage
Center Street between Shattuck and Milvia

8. Kittredge Garage (Library Gardens)
Kittredge between Shattuck and Militia

For UC Berkeley parking Information, call (510) 642-4283 or visit http://pt.berkeley.edu/parking/visitor/lots.

For downtown Berkeley parking information, visit http://www.downtownberkeley.com/transit-parking-map

Public Transit 

BART

BART trains operate from Fremont, Richmond, Pittsburg and Millbrae. A map indicating the route and stops of each train is located at each station. The Berkeley BART station is just 1-1/2 blocks from the Berkeley campus.

Get off at the "Downtown Berkeley" station, located at the corner of Center Street and Shattuck Avenue. Walk one block east on Center Street to the campus, then turn right on Oxford Street until Bancroft Way. Turn left on Bancroft to Telegraph Avenue for Zellerbach Playhouse. See a complete UC Berkeley campus map here.

There is also a taxi station on Shattuck, directly outside the main entrance/exit of the Downtown Berkeley BART Station.

AC Transit

AC Transit bus service provides transportation for commuters to and from San Francisco and throughout Alameda and Western Contra Costa County. There are several AC bus lines that come near the campus area. Full information at http://www.actransit.org.

Airports

The Oakland Airport is approximately 15 miles from UC Berkeley. A new BART train links the airport to the Coliseum BART station.

San Francisco Airport: Check the ground transport section of the SF airport homepage for directions to Berkeley. Also, see the convenient BART line to the airport.

Other Transit Links
511.org (Traffic conditions and regional transportation options)
Bayporter Express (airport shuttle service)
SF MTA (San Francisco Buses)

* Attendees can receive 5 CE credit hours for attending in-person or online.

* Continuing Education for this event co-sponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars.

Satisfactory Completion

Participants must have paid tuition fee, signed in, attended the entire seminar, completed an evaluation, and signed out in order to receive a certificate. Failure to sign in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available.

Psychologists

R. Cassidy Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education for psychologists.  R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for this program. 5 CE hours.

Social Workers

R. Cassidy Seminars, ACE provider #1082 is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Program. Approval Period: April 15, 20015-April 15, 2018. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for the program. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. Social workers will receive 5 continuing education (clinical, social work ethics) clock hours in participating in this course.

OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for 5 clock hours, #RCST110701

Counselors/Marriage and Family Therapists

IL: Illinois Dept of Professional Regulation, Approved Continuing Education Sponsor, #168-000141. 5 hours.

OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for 5 clock hours, #RCST110701

TX: Approved CE Sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists. Provider #151.  5 CE hours

Chemical Dependency Counselors

Provider approved by NAADAC Approved Education Provider Program for 5 contact hours.  Approval #000654. 

CA: Provider approved by CAADAC, Provider #4N-00-434-0210 for 5 CEHs. CAADAC is an ICRC member which has reciprocity with most ICRC member states

TX: Provider approved by the TCBAP Standards Committee, Provider No. 1749-06,  5 hours general. Expires 3/2017.  Complaints about provider or workshop content may be directed to the TCBAP Standards Committee, 1005 Congress Avenue, Ste. 460, Austin, Texas 78701, Fax Number (512) 476-7297. 

Nurses

CA: Provider approved by the CA Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CeP12224, for 5 contact hours.

Teachers/Educators

IL: Provider approved by the Illinois State Board of Certification #080304164719171   5 CE hours.

TX: R. Cassidy Seminars is an approved provider with the Texas Education Agency CPE# 501456. This course is 5 CE Hours.

Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.

Disability Access: If you require ADA accommodations please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.

If you can’t make it to the San Francisco Bay Area, never fear: This event will be webcast live!

With the webcast, you’ll watch real-time video of the event, including slides, be able to submit questions to the presenter online, and receive CE credits—all from the comfort of your home, office, or anywhere with a hard-wired Internet connection.

You will be emailed prior to the event with course materials and a login and password for the webcast.

Please see the registration page for more details about the webcast.